Wire rod excellent in wire-drawing workability and method for producing same

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are a wire rod and a method therefor. The wire rod is excellent in wire-drawing workability, insusceptible to wire break in spite of an increase in wire-drawing rate, and reduction of area, and capable of extending a die life by suppressing die wear. The wire rod is made of steel containing C: 0.6 to 1.1%, Si: 0.1 to 2.0%, Mn: 0.1 to 1%, P: not more than 0.20%, S: not more than 0.20%, N: not more than 0.006%, Al: not more than 0.03%, and O: not more than 0.003%, the balance including Fe, and unavoidable impurities. Further, the wire rod comprises a pearlite structure wherein an area ratio of a second-phase ferrite is not more than 11.0%, and a pearlite lamellar spacing is not less than 120 μm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a wire rod excellent in wire-drawing workability, out of which a drawn wire product, such as a steel cord, beading wire, PC steel wire, spring steel, can be efficiently produced with high productivity, and a method for producing the same.

In most cases of producing a drawn wire product, such as a steel cord, a drawing process is applied to a wire rod serving as material for the wire product in order to make adjustment in size and quality (physical properties), and therefore, it is extremely useful from the viewpoint of enhancement in productivity, and so forth to improve wire-drawing workability of the wire rod. In this connection, if improvement on wire drawing workability is implemented, this will not only improve productivity, due to an increase in drawing rate and a decrease in the number of drawing passes, but also provide many benefits such as reduction in wear and tear of draw dies.

Accordingly, in a pertinent technical field, researches on enhancement in the wire drawing workability of the wire rod have been under way. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 91912/2004, there has been disclosed a technology for improving the wire-drawing workability by focusing attention on size of a pearlite block, a quantity of pro-eutectoid cementite formed, an average thickness of cementite, Cr concentration in cementite, and so forth, and by optimizing them.

Further, in JP-A-295930/1996, there has been disclosed that the wire-drawing workability is improved by controlling an area ratio of upper bainite formation, and growth size of intergranular bainite. In JP-A-130258/1987, there has been disclosed a technology for improving resistance to wire break, and a die life by controlling an amount of total oxygen, and nonviscous inclusion composition, in steel.

However, a rise in wire-drawing rate, and an increase in reduction of area per one pass cause degradation in ductility of a drawn wire product, and deterioration in die life. Accordingly, in order to further enhance productivity in the pertinent technical field, there is still a demand for a wire rod excellent in the wire-drawing workability, capable of achieving excellent resistance to wire-break, and enhancement of the die life even in harsh wire-drawing conditions of high wire-drawing rate, and large reduction of area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Under circumstances described as above, the invention has been developed, and it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a wire rod excellent in wire-drawing workability, insusceptible to wire break in spite of an increase in wire-drawing rate, and reduction of area, and capable of extending a die life by suppressing die wear, and a method for producing the same.

According to one aspect of the invention, a wire rod that has succeeded in achieving the object is made of steel containing C: 0.6 to 1.1% (mass %, applicable to all components referred to hereunder), Si: 0.1 to 2.0%, Mn: 0.1 to 1%, P: not more than 0.020% (0% exclusive), S: not more than 0.020% (0% exclusive), N: not more than 0.006% (0% exclusive), Al: not more than 0.03% (0% exclusive), and O: not more than 0.003% (0% exclusive), the balance including Fe, and unavoidable impurities, and further, the wire rod comprises a pearlite structure wherein an area ratio of a second-phase ferrite is not more than 11.0%, and a pearlite lamellar spacing is not less than 120 μm.

The wire rod according to the aspect of the invention may contain not more than 1.5% Cr for higher strength, and may further contain not more than 1% Cu, and/or not more than 1% Ni, for suppression of decarburization.

The wire rod according to the aspect of the invention preferably further contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of not more than 0.30% V, not more than 0.1% Ti, not more than 0.10% Nb, not more than 0.5% Mo, and not more than 0.1% Zr from the viewpoint of refinement of the metal microstructure, and suppression of transformation into ferrite.

The wire rod according to the aspect of the invention may further contain at least one element selected from the group consisting of not more than 5 ppm Mg, not more than 5 ppm Ca, and not more than 1.5 ppm REM in order to soften oxides and enhance the wire drawing workability. Still further, the wire rod according to the invention may contain not more than 15 ppm B in order to enhance hardenability.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for producing a wire rod, comprising the steps of heating a steel product meeting requirements for chemical components, as described hereinbefore, to a temperature in a range of 900 to 1250° C., hot rolling the steel product at a temperature not lower than 780° C., and finish-rolling the same at a temperature not higher than 1100° C. to be thereby formed into a wire rod, water-cooling the wire rod to a temperature range of 750 to 950° C. before coiling the same up to be placed on conveying equipment, cooling the wire rod at an average cooling rate of not less than 20° C./sec within 20 sec from the coiling of the wire rod to thereby drop temperature of the wire rod to a minimum value point (T1) in a temperature range of 550 to 630° C., and subsequently heating the wire rod to thereby raise the temperature of the wire rod up to a maximum value point (T2) in a temperature range of 580 to 720° C., higher in temperature than T1, within 50 sec from the coiling of the wire rod.

The inventor, et al. have found out to their surprise that a wire rod excellent in wire-drawing workability, insusceptible to wire break, and capable of extending a die life by suppressing die wear, can be obtained by specifying the respective contents of C, Si, Mn, P, S, N, Al, and O while controlling the area ratio of the second-phase ferrite and the pearlite lamellar spacing. With the use of the wire rod described, it will become possible to increase a wire-drawing rate, and reduction of area, thereby enabling productivity to be further enhanced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a SEM photograph of a location at D/4 on the cross-sectional face of a wire rod according to an embodiment of the invention (D: diameter of the wire rod); (the SEM photograph used for explaining about the structure of a second-phase ferrite),

FIG. 2 is another SEM photograph of a location at D/4on the cross-sectional face of the wire rod (D: diameter of the wire rod); (the SEM photograph used for explaining about a method of finding a pearlite lamellar spacing), and

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation showing a treatment pattern adopted in a method for producing the wire rod according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A wire rod according to the invention has features lying in requirements for chemical components thereof, and requirements for a metal microstructure thereof (an area ratio of a second-phase ferrite, and a pearlite lamellar spacing). Accordingly, the chemical components of the wire rod (a steel product) are first described hereinafter.

C: 0.6 to 1.1% (mass %, applicable to all components referred to hereunder)

Carbon is an element intensely affecting strength of the wire rod, and in order to secure strength required of a steel cord, beading wire, PC steel wire, and so forth, as targets for which the invention has been developed, addition of not less than 0.6% C is required. On the other hand, if carbon content is excessive, there occurs degradation in ductility, so that an upper limit of the carbon content is set to 1.1%. The carbon content is preferably in a range of 0.8 to 1.0%.

Si: 0.1 to 2.0%

For the purpose of deoxidation, in particular, Si is added to a wire rod to be subjected to intense drawing, and addition of not less than 0.1% Si is required. Further, because Si also contributes to enhancement in strength of the wire rod due to solid solution hardening, an addition amount thereof is increased as necessary. However, an excessive increase in the strength due to excessive addition of Si will cause deterioration in wire-drawing workability. Furthermore, the excessive addition of Si will cause promotion of decarburization, to which attention should be given. For those reasons, with the invention, an upper limit of silicon content is set to 2.0% to prevent deterioration in wire-drawing workability, and promotion of decarburization. The silicon content is preferably in a range of 0.15 to 1.8%.

Mn: 0.1 to 1%

Addition of not less than 0.1% Mn is required for the purpose of deoxidization, and locking a deleterious element S in the form of MnS to thereby render S harmless. Further, Mn also acts so as to stabilize carbide in steel. However, because excessive Mn content will cause occurrence of segregation, and supercooled structures, thereby causing deterioration in wire drawing workability, an upper limit of Mn content is set to 1%. The Mn content is more preferably in a range of 0.15 to 0.9%.

P: not more than 0.020% (0% exclusive)

P is an element deleterious to wire drawing workability, in particular, and because excessive P content causes degradation in tenacity and ductility of a wire rod, an upper limit of P content is set to 0.020%. The P content is more preferably not more than 0.015%, and further preferably, not more than 0.010%.

S: not more than 0.020% (0% exclusive)

S as well is an element deleterious to wire drawing workability, in particular. If Mn is contained, S can be locked in the form of MnS, as described above, however, excessive S content causes an increase in amount as well as size of MnS, thereby resulting in degradation of ductility, an upper limit of S content is set to 0.020%. The S content is more preferably not more than 0.015%, further preferably, not more than 0.010%.

N: not more than 0.006% (0% exclusive)

N is an element contributing to an increase in strength due to age hardening. A preferable lower limit of N content is 0.001%. However, because the N content causes degradation in ductility, an upper limit thereof is set to 0.006%. The upper limit is preferably not more than 0.004%, more preferably, not more than 0.003%.

Al: not more than 0.03% (0% exclusive)

Al is an element effective as a deoxidizer, and further, is combined with N to form AlN, which contributes to refinement of a metal microstructure. A preferable lower limit of Al content is 0.0003%. However, if the Al content is excessive, this will cause coarse oxides to be formed, thereby resulting in deterioration of wire drawing workability, and an upper limit thereof is therefore set to 0.03%. The upper limit thereof is preferably not more than 0.01%, more preferably not more than 0.005%.

O: not more than 0.003% (0% exclusive)

If oxygen content in steel is high, the coarse oxides are prone to be easily formed, thereby resulting in deterioration of wire drawing workability, and an upper limit of the oxygen content is therefore set to 0.003%. The upper limit thereof is preferably not more than 0.002%, more preferably not more than 0.0015%.

With the wire rod according to the invention, the chemical components described as above represent basic components, and the balance includes in effect Fe, and unavoidable impurities, however, the wire rod may contain the following elements if needs be.

Cr: not more than 1.5%

Cr is an element effective for rendering the wire rod higher in strength, and a preferable lower limit of Cr content is 0.01%. However, since excessive addition of Cr causes supercooled structures prone to be formed to thereby cause deterioration in wire drawing workability, an upper limit of the Cr content is set to 1.5%. The upper limit thereof is preferably not more than 1.0%.

Cu: not more than 1%

Cu is an element acting so as to enhance corrosion resistance besides acting so as to suppress decarburization in a surface layer, and therefore, Cu can be added as necessary. A preferable lower limit of Cu content is 0.01%. However, because excessive addition of Cu will not only render the wire rod susceptible to cracking upon hot working, but also adversely affect wire drawing workability due to formation of supercooled structures, an upper limit of the Cu content is set to 1%. The upper limit thereof is preferably not more than 0.8%.

Ni: not more than 1%

Ni is an element effective for suppressing decarburization in the surface layer, and enhancement in corrosion resistance, as with the case of Cu, and therefore, Ni can be added as necessary. A preferable lower limit of Ni content is 0.01%. However, because excessive addition of Ni will cause deterioration in the wire drawing workability due to formation of supercooled structures, an upper limit of the Ni content is set to 1%. The upper limit thereof is preferably not more than 0.8%.

V: not more than 0.30%

V is an element contributing to refinement of the metal microstructure by forming carbide in carbon steel. Further, because V in solid solution state will enhance hardenability, and suppress transformation into ferrite, V can be added as necessary. A preferable lower limit of V content is 0.0010%. However, because excessive addition of V will cause deterioration in the wire drawing workability due to formation of supercooled structures, an upper limit of the V content is set to 0.3%. The upper limit thereof is preferably not more than 0.25%.

Ti: not more than 0.1%

Ti is an element contributing to the refinement of the metal microstructure, and the suppression of transformation into ferrite as with the case of V, and Ti can therefore be added as necessary. A preferable lower limit of Ti content is 0.0010%. However, because excessive addition of Ti will cause deterioration in wire drawing workability, an upper limit of the Ti content is set to 0.1%. The upper limit thereof is preferably not more than 0.08%.

Nb: not more than 0.10%

Nb is an element contributing to the refinement of the metal microstructure, and the suppression of transformation into ferrite as with the case of V, and Nb can therefore be added as necessary. A preferable lower limit of Nb content is 0.020%. However, because excessive addition of Nb will cause deterioration in wire drawing workability, an upper limit of the Nb content is set to 0.10%. The upper limit thereof is preferably not more than 0.08%.

Mo: not more than 0.5%

Mo is an element contributing to the refinement of the metal microstructure, and the suppression of transformation into ferrite as with the case of V, and Mo can therefore be added as necessary. A preferable lower limit of Mo content is 0.05%. However, because excessive addition of Mo will cause deterioration in wire drawing workability, an upper limit of the Mo content is set to 0.5%. The upper limit thereof is preferably not more than 0.3%.

Zr: not more than 0.1%

Zr is an element contributing to the refinement of the metal microstructure, and the suppression of transformation into ferrite as with the case of V, and Zr can therefore be added as necessary. A preferable lower limit of Zr content is 0.010%. However, because excessive addition of Zr will cause deterioration in wire drawing workability, an upper limit of the Zr content is set to 0.1%. The upper limit thereof is preferably not more than 0.05%.

Mg: not more than 5 ppm

Mg is an element acting so as to soften oxides to thereby enhance wire drawing workability, and Mg can therefore be added as necessary. A preferable lower limit of Mg content is 0.1 ppm. However, because excessive addition of Mg will cause oxides thereof to undergo a change in quality to thereby rather deteriorate wire drawing workability, an upper limit of the Mg content is set to 5 ppm. The upper limit thereof is preferably not more than 2 ppm.

Ca: not more than 5 ppm

Ca is an element acting so as to soften oxides as with the case of Mg, and Ca can therefore be added as necessary. A preferable lower limit of Ca content is 0.3 ppm. However, because excessive addition of Ca will cause deterioration in wire drawing workability, an upper limit of the Ca content is set to 5 ppm. The upper limit thereof is preferably not more than 2 ppm.

REM: not more than 1.5 ppm

REM acts so as to soften oxides as with the case of Mg, and REM can therefore be added as necessary. A preferable lower limit of REM content is 0.1 ppm. However, because excessive addition of REM will cause deterioration in wire drawing workability, an upper limit of the REM content is set to 1.5 ppm. The upper limit thereof is preferably not more than 0.5 ppm.

B: not more than 15 ppm

B is an element capable of enhancing hardenability, and addition of B enables the transformation into ferrite to be suppressed. A preferable lower limit of B content is 3 ppm. However, because excessive addition of B causes supercooled structures prone to be easily formed, thereby adversely affecting wire drawing workability, an upper limit of the B content is set to 15 ppm. The upper limit thereof is preferably not more than 12 ppm.

Next, the metal microstructure of the wire rod according to the invention is described hereinafter. The wire rod according to the invention has a feature in that the area ratio of the second-phase ferrite is not more than 11.0%. Herein, “the second-phase ferrite” according to the invention refers to ferrite in a region without pearlite (lamellar structure of ferrite and cementite) formed therein, as indicated by respective arrows in FIG. 1 showing an SEM photograph of a cross-sectional face of the wire rod. Further, because there are times when it is difficult to distinguish the second-phase ferrite from pearlite, “the second-phase ferrite” according to the invention is more specifically defined as “BCC—Fe crystal grains in a region surrounded by a boundary differing in misorientation angle by not less than 10 degrees from the periphery of the region, an area ratio of cementite present in the respective BCC—Fe crystal grains being not more than 6%”.

“The area ratio of the second-phase ferrite”, according to the invention, refers to an area ratio (%) of the second-phase ferrite to an observed visual field of the cross-sectional face of the wire rod, magnified 500 to 1500 times by the scanning electron microscope (SEM), that is, (an area of the second-phase ferrite within the observed visual field/an area of the observed visual field in whole)×100. In this case, the area of the second-phase ferrite can be found by use of image analysis software, for example, {Image-Pro (Ver 4.0)} developed by Media Cybernetics. Further, since there occurs variation in the area ratio of the second-phase ferrite by the visual field as observed, a mean value of several values thereof, found by observing not less than eight visual fields selected at random, is adopted as a value of the area ratio of the second-phase ferrite, according to the invention.

The inventor, et al. have found out that a wire rod excellent in resistance to wire-break can be obtained by controlling the area ratio of the second-phase ferrite of the wire rod to not more than 11%, preferably 10.0%, and more preferably not more than 9%. A mechanism causing the above is not clearly known, however, the mechanism can be presumed to be as follows. The invention, however, is not to be limited in scope to the mechanism presumed as described hereunder.

With a carbon steel wire rod to be subjected to drawing, such as the wire rod according to the invention, the primary constituent of the metal microstructure thereof is pearlite, however, in general, there also exists the region of the second-phase ferrite, without pearlite formed therein. It is presumed that strain concentration occurs to the second-phase ferrite lower in strength than pearlite when drawing is applied, so that voids are prone to occur thereto. The voids each can become a starting point of wire break. Accordingly, it is reasoned that resistance to wire break can be enhanced by decreasing the second-phase ferrite that is low in strength and is susceptible to the strain concentration.

Further, the wire rod according to the invention has a feature in that the same comprises a pearlite structure wherein the pearlite lamellar spacing is not less than 120 μm, preferably not less than 140 μm, and more preferably not less than 170 μm. The wire rod according to the invention can at times include bainite, and/or martensite besides the second-phase ferrite, however, pearlite is the primary constituent of the metal microstructure thereof. In the case of bainite, and/or martensite being in existence, a ratio of a total area of those microconstituents is preferably not more than 5%, more preferably not more than 2%, and still more preferably, bainite, and martensite do not in effect exist.

With the invention, “the pearlite lamellar spacing” refers to a thickness of a lamellar layer in pearlite, composed of a pair of a ferrite layer and a cementite layer, in pearlite. However, since there occurs variation in the pearlite lamellar spacing by the position for observation of the metal microstructure, what has been found in the following manner is defined as a value of “the pearlite lamellar spacing” according to the invention.

First, not less than six photographs of the cross-sectional face of the wire rod, as observed and magnified 3000 to 10,000 times by the SEM, are taken. As shown in FIG. 2, in a colony (a region where the ferrite layers and the cementite layers, in pearlite, are aligned in same direction) in the respective photographs taken by the SEM, a line segment orthogonal to the ferrite layers and the cementite layers is drawn, and the pearlite lamellar spacing in the colony as “a length of the line segment/the number of lamellar layers within the line segment” is found on the basis of the length of the line segment, and the number of the lamellar layers within the line segment. Then, by finding the pearlite lamellar spacings within not more than five pieces of the colonies, respectively, in the respective photographs taken by the SEM, the respective pearlite lamellar spacings within not less than thirty pieces of the colonies altogether are worked out, and a mean value thereof is defined as a value of “the pearlite lamellar spacing” according to the invention.

A mechanism whereby the resistance to the wire-break of the wire rod is enhanced if the pearlite lamellar spacing is not less than 120 μm is not clearly known, however, the mechanism can be presumed to be as follows. The invention, however, is not to be limited in scope to the mechanism presumed as described hereunder. Even if the second-phase ferrite exists in the wire rod, the strain concentration occurring to the second-phase ferrite will be mitigated in the case that a difference in strength between the second-phase ferrite and microstructure on the periphery thereof is small, so that occurrence of voids likely to cause wire-break is presumed to be checked. Further, it is reasoned that if the pearlite lamellar spacing becomes wider, strength of pearlite becomes lower, and a difference in strength between pearlite and the second-phase ferrite is rendered relatively small, so that this will probably contribute to enhancement in the resistance to the wire-break of the wire rod.

However, if the pearlite lamellar spacing becomes excessively wide, it is deemed that a likelihood of occurrence of the voids will become greater on the contrary. An upper limit of the pearlite lamellar spacing is therefore preferably not more than 350 μm, more preferably not more than 300 μm, and still more preferably, not more than 280 μm.

With the invention, a location on the cross-sectional face, adopted for observation by the SEM, in order to find “the area ratio of the second-phase ferrite”, and “the pearlite lamellar spacing”, is specified as a location at D/4 on the cross-sectional face of the wire rod (D: diameter of the wire rod). The reason for this is to extract average data on the metal microstructure of the wire rod. Parts in the surface layer are subjected to effects of decarburization and central parts are subjected to effects of segregation and so forth, so that variations in the data, at those locations, tend to increase.

The wire rod according to the invention can be produced by, for example, a method described hereinafter (refer to FIG. 3). The wire rod according to the invention, however, is not limited to that produced by the method described hereinafter. First, a steel product meeting the requirements for the chemical components is heated up to 900 to 1250° C. to be subsequently hot rolled at a temperature not lower than 780° C., and a finish-rolling temperature is controlled to not higher than 1100° C. This is because heating is insufficient with a heating temperature lower than 900° C., and conversely, if the heating temperature exceeds 1250° C., decarburization in the surface layer spreads, so that scales capable of adversely affecting the wire-drawing workability tend to become harder to peel off. Further, if a rolling temperature is lowered, decarburization in the surface layer is similarly promoted, and a lower limit temperature for hot rolling is therefore set to 780° C. Conversely, if the finish-rolling temperature exceeds 1100° C., this will render it difficult to control transformation of the metal microstructure by cooling and reheating, to be executed in a subsequent process step, so that an upper limit of the finish-rolling temperature is set to 1100° C.

A wire rod formed after the finish-rolling is water-cooled to a temperature range of 750 to 950° C., and is coiled up on conveying equipment, such as a Stelmor conveyer, to be then placed thereon. Temperature control executed after water-cooling is important for control of the transformation of the metal microstructure, taking place thereafter, and control of scales. If an ultimate temperature at the time of water-cooling is below 750° C., this will at times cause the supercooled structures to be formed in the surface layer, thereby adversely affecting the wire-drawing workability, and on the other hand, if the ultimate temperature exceeds 950° C., this will cause loss in deformability of scales, so that scales will peel off in the course of transportation, thereby creating a cause for rusting.

It is of particular importance from the viewpoint of obtaining the wire rod meeting the requirements for the metal microstructure, excellent in the wire-drawing workability, to cool the wire rod at an average cooling rate of not less than 20° C./sec within 20 sec from the coiling of the wire rod to thereby drop temperature of the wire rod to a minimum value point (T1) in a temperature range of 550 to 630° C. before raising the temperature of the wire rod up to a maximum value point (T2) in a temperature range of 580 to 720° C., higher in value than T1, within 50 sec from the coiling of the wire rod. A reference time for “within 20 sec from the coiling” is a point in time when a rolled wire rod is coiled up in ring-like fashion to be placed on the conveying equipment, such as the conveyer. Further, since the wire rod is continuously coiled up, and is continuously cooled, there occurs time lag between the top part of the wire rod, coiled up, and the bottom part thereof, to be coiled up, with respect to a time when the wire rod is placed, and a time when the wire rod is cooled, respectively, however, respective measurements on time from the coiling up to the cooling are started upon the coiling of the respective part of the wire rod.

Since it is presumed that the second-phase ferrite prone to undergo strain concentration is formed at a relatively high temperature before pearlite transformation, formation of the second-phase ferrite can be suppressed by rapidly cooling the wire rod at the average cooling rate of not less than 20° C./sec down to a temperature region where ferrite is hard to be formed within 20 sec from the coiling of the wire rod. Further, because pearlite transformation nuclei in massive amounts are formed due to such rapid cooling, advantageous effect of the metal microstructure being micronized can be gained. However, if a cooling rate is excessively high, this will raise the risk of an increase in strength differential within the wire rod, due to localized formation of supercooled structures, and so forth, thereby causing deterioration in the wire drawing workability. Accordingly, the average cooling rate is preferably set to not more than 50° C./sec. Herein, “the average cooling rate”, according to the invention, refers to a cooling rate found on the basis of a temperature difference between the wire rod temperature upon the coiling thereof (that is, the wire rod temperature after water-cooling) and T1, and a cooling time length required for the wire rod temperature at the time of the coiling to drop down to T1.

Further, if the wire rod is cooled down only to the minimum value point (T1) in excess of 630° C. in such a cooling process step as described above, it is not possible to sufficiently suppress the formation of the second-phase ferrite, so that coarse grains having adverse effects on the wire-drawing workability become prone to be easily formed. On the contrary, if the wire rod is excessively cooled down to the minimum value point (T1) below 550° C., this will lead to an increase in strength differential within the wire rod, due to the formation of the supercooled structures, and so forth.

After the wire rod is cooled down to T1 in the temperature range during the cooling process step, the wire rod is reheated to thereby cause the pearlite transformation to occur. On this occasion, by increasing the wire rod temperature to a high temperature at 580° C. or higher, the pearlite lamellar spacing can be rendered wider. Further, it is presumed that the higher a transformation temperature, the wider the pearlite lamellar spacing can become, however, ductility becomes excessively low at the transformation temperature in excess of 720° C., raising the risk of the wire drawing workability undergoing deterioration contrary to expectation.

It is deemed possible that the pearlite lamellar spacing can be rendered wider by slowly cooling the wire rod as usual, or holding the wire rod at a constant temperature without rapidly cooling the same after the coiling thereof on the conveying equipment. However, there is a likelihood that the metal microstructure becomes coarser because a rate at which the pearlite transformation nuclei are formed is low in a high temperature region, thereby causing adverse effects on the wire drawing workability. Hence, the wire rod whose metal microstructure is fine, and has a wide pearlite lamellar spacing can be provided by a production method according to the invention, comprising a step of rapidly cooling a wire rod once after coiling thereof on a conveying equipment before reheating the same, thereby causing pearlite transformation to proceed in a high temperature region.

WORKING EXAMPLES

The invention is more specifically described hereinafter with reference to working examples. It is to be pointed out, however, that the invention be not limited in scope by the working examples described hereunder, and that various changes and modifications may be obviously made in the invention in light of teachings described hereinbefore and hereinafter without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

1. Production of Wire Rods

Hot rolled wire rods Nos. 1 to 29, each 5.5 mm in diameter, were produced under various conditions shown in Table 2, with the use of steel products S1 to S16, having chemical compositions shown in Table 1, respectively. More specifically, the steel products each were heated to a range of 978 to 1205° C. in a heating furnace to be hot rolled at a rolling temperature not lower than 807° C., and to be finish-rolled at a temperature not higher than 1068° C., thereby being formed into the respective wire rods. The wire rods each were water-cooled to a temperature in a range of 798 to 948° C., and were subsequently coiled up and placed on the Stelmor conveyer (a cooling bed) to be continuously cooled. In the course of cooling on the Stelmor conveyer, temperature of the wire rod was lowered to the minimum value point (T1) in a temperature range of 515 to 682° C. within 20 sec from the coiling of the wire rod. An average cooling rate during this time period was in a range of 13 to 99° C./sec. Subsequently, the temperature of the wire rod was raised from T1 up to the maximum value point (T2) in a temperature range of 584 to 705° C. Further, some of the wire rods were continuously and slowly cooled from T1 without being heated up from T1. TABLE 2 minimum value maximum value point T1 point T2 wire rod average time from time from heating lowest hot-roll finish-rolling temperature after cooling coiling of coiling of wire temperature temperature temperature water-cooling rate the wire temperature the wire temperature rod steel product (° C.) (° C.) (° C.) (° C.) (° C./sec) rod (sec) (° C.) rod (sec) (° C.) 1 S1 1151 933 989 940 78 5.0 550 18.0 688 2 S1 1150 930 991 948 14 19.0 682 29.0 701 3 S2 1148 945 993 845 75 3.5 583 17.0 691 4 S2 1150 941 990 847 24 10.0 607 15.0 678 5 S2 1151 940 992 850 35 7.0 605 15.0 684 6 S3 1175 946 1068 911 93 3.5 586 15.0 692 7 S3 1172 944 1059 908 18 18.0 584 28.0 689 8 S4 1150 940 1033 908 94 3.5 579 12.0 664 9 S4 1154 938 1031 912 97 3.5 573 12.0 599 10 S4 1151 935 1030 921 99 4.0 525 11.0 662 11 S5 1022 855 982 910 75 4.0 610 10.0 701 12 S5 1020 857 977 915 51 5.5 642 11.0 703 13 S5 1018 861 978 908 16 19.0 604 28.0 697 14 S6 1025 843 972 914 70 5.0 564 18.0 645 15 S6 1024 840 981 908 76 5.0 528 17.0 584 16 S6 1031 851 988 916 54 5.0 646 slow cooling (T1 > T2) 17 S7 1020 807 934 798 61 3.5 585 10.0 705 18 S7 1022 811 930 805 58 3.5 602 slow cooling (T1 > T2) 19 S8 978 813 933 823 56 3.5 627 10.0 698 20 S9 1055 905 976 921 50 7.0 571 18.0 685 21  S10 1054 912 975 917 48 7.0 581 17.0 683 22  S11 1151 977 1064 922 47 7.0 593 17.0 701 23  S11 1148 971 1058 914 57 7.0 515 20.0 645 24  S11 1152 972 1045 912 13 18.0 678 24.0 688 25  S12 1205 968 1037 915 45 7.0 600 14.0 675 26  S13 1148 941 991 905 59 5.5 581 12.0 664 27  S14 1145 940 994 902 58 5.5 583 12.0 665 28  S15 1147 952 987 908 55 5.5 606 12.0 657 29  S16 1142 951 992 905 54 5.5 608 12.0 661

TABLE 1 Chemical components 1 (basic components) of steel products (mass %) Steel Products C Si Mn P S Al N O S1 0.60 0.20 0.49 0.007 0.008 0.0011 0.0021 0.0012 S2 0.61 0.19 0.48 0.005 0.007 0.0005 0.0024 0.0011 S3 0.70 0.20 0.50 0.005 0.006 0.0005 0.0024 0.0010 S4 0.72 0.19 0.83 0.006 0.005 0.0278 0.0032 0.0013 S5 0.80 0.20 0.50 0.006 0.004 0.0007 0.0028 0.0010 S6 0.81 0.20 0.51 0.015 0.014 0.0010 0.0030 0.0011 S7 0.81 0.19 0.50 0.005 0.007 0.0004 0.0027 0.0010 S8 0.82 0.20 0.50 0.004 0.004 0.0008 0.0022 0.0009 S9 0.89 1.77 0.49 0.005 0.004 0.0010 0.0031 0.0011 S10 0.90 0.22 0.49 0.006 0.005 0.0009 0.0025 0.0010 S11 0.92 0.19 0.49 0.004 0.005 0.0006 0.0027 0.0011 S12 1.05 0.18 0.49 0.006 0.005 0.0005 0.0025 0.0010 S13 0.81 2.30 0.50 0.005 0.005 0.0350 0.0031 0.0015 S14 0.81 0.20 1.55 0.011 0.022 0.0254 0.0037 0.0014 S15 0.81 0.21 0.49 0.021 0.013 0.0279 0.0075 0.0015 S16 1.20 0.19 0.50 0.008 0.007 0.0244 0.0050 0.0014 Chemical components 2 (basic components) of steel products (mass %) Steel mass % mass ppm Products Cr Cu Ni V Ti Nb Mo Zr B Mg Ca REM S1 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.0021 0.0710 — — — 11 0.1 1.1 — S2 — 0.01 — — — — — — — — — — S3 — — — 0.0022 0.0010 0.0300 — 0.0240  8 0.2 — — S4 0.02 0.01 0.02 0.0018 — — — — — 0.1 1.0 0.1 S5 0.01 — 0.30 0.0017 — 0.0510 — —  3 0.1 0.7 — S6 0.78 — — 0.1100 — — 0.21 — — 0.2 1.2 0.1 S7 — 0.01 0.02 — — — — — — 0.1 1.1 0.1 S8 0.01 — — — — — — — — 0.1 — — S9 0.31 0.21 0.20 0.2170 0.0011 — — — — 0.1 0.8 — S10 0.01 — — — — — — — — — — — S11 0.20 0.18 — — — — — — — 0.1 1.0 0.1 S12 0.22 0.11 0.01 — — — — — 10 0.1 1.4 0.1 S13 0.70 0.21 0.15 0.3110 — — — — — 0.1 0.7 — S14 0.51 0.10 0.11 — — — — — — — — — S15 — — — — — 0.1050 — — 11 — — — S16 1.60 — — — — — — — — — — — 2. Measurement on Area Ratio of Second-Phase Ferrite, and Pearlite Lamellar Spacing

As to the respective wire rods obtained as above, the area ratio of the second-phase ferrite, and the pearlite lamellar spacing were measured as follows:

First, the wire rods each were cut, and resin was embedded therein such that the cross-sectional face of the wire rod can serve as an evaluation face, wet polishing by use of an emery paper and diamond powders was applied to the cross-sectional face thereof, and a metal microstructure of the cross-sectional face thereof was exposed by etching with Picral, thereby preparing a specimen for observation. Then, the metal microstructure of the wire rod, at the location corresponding to D/4 on the cross-sectional face of the wire rod (D: diameter of the wire rod) was observed by the SEM

In measuring the area ratio of the second-phase ferrite, respective SEM photos of not less than 8 visual fields, as magnified 500 to 1500 times by the SEM, were taken. On the basis of the respective SEM photos obtained, the area ratio of the second-phase ferrite was worked out by carrying out image analysis with the use of the image analysis software, {Image-Pro (Ver 4.0)}, thereby having found a mean value of the area ratios of the second-phase ferrite, worked out according to those SEM photos, respectively. Measurement results are shown in Table 3.

In measurement of the pearlite lamellar spacing, respective SEM photographs of not less than 6 visual fields of the cross-sectional face of each of the wire rod, as magnified 3000 to 10,000 times by the SEM, were taken. On the basis of the respective SEM photos obtained, the respective pearlite lamellar spacings within not more than five pieces of the colonies were found, thereby having worked out a mean value of the pearlite lamellar spacings as found from not less than thirty pieces of the colonies altogether. Measurement results are shown in Table 3.

3. Evaluation on Wire Drawing Workability

With respect to the respective wire rods, wire drawing workability was evaluated as follows.

First, chemical descaling (acid cleaning) or mechanical descaling (MD), shown in Table 3, as a descaling treatment to provide a pretreatment for wire-drawing, was applied to the respective wire rods (5.5 mm in diameter). In the case of acid cleaning, the respective wire rods were cleaned in hydrochloric acid to be subsequently treated with a phosphate. In the case of mechanical descaling (MD), bending stress was imparted to the respective wire rods with the use of a bending roller provided alongside a wire drawing machine to thereby remove scales, and subsequently, borax was applied to the respective wire rods. The respective wire rods after removal of the scales by the acid cleaning or the mechanical descaling were subjected to wire-drawing using a Na-based lubricant.

Thereafter, dry wire-drawing with the use of a continuous-wire-drawing machine was applied to the respective wire rods on the following wire drawing conditions (1) to (3), respectively, until a final diameter is reduced to 0.9 mm. The higher a wire-drawing rate is, and the less the number of dies is, that is, according as the wire-drawing condition turns from (1) to (3), the higher productivity of drawing will become, however, the wire-drawing condition will become severer.

The wire-drawing condition (1): final wire-drawing rate at 600 m/min, the number of dies; 14 pieces

The wire-drawing condition (2): final wire-drawing rate at 800 m/min, the number of dies; 14 pieces

The wire-drawing condition (3): final wire-drawing rate at 800 m/min, the number of dies; 12 pieces

Wire-drawing under the respective wire-drawing conditions was applied to 50 tons each of the wire rods, and evaluation was made on whether or not a wire-break occurs, and an extent of die-wear, as criteria for the wire drawing workability. As to the evaluation on the extent of the die-wear, symbol (X) indicates the case where any of the dies were broken in the course of wire-drawing, symbol (Δ) indicates the case where none of the dies were broken in the course of drawing 50 tons each of the wire rods, but the dies were worn out, requiring replacement after the wire-drawing, and symbol (◯) indicates the case where none of the dies were broken, and there is no necessity of replacing the dies, due to the wear thereof, after the wire-drawing of 50 tons each of the wire rods. Further, symbol (-) indicates the case where the evaluation on the extent of the die-wear was not applicable due to occurrence of wire-break. Measurement results are shown in Table 3. TABLE 3 area ratio pearlite wire-drawing wire-drawing wire-drawing of second- lamellar condition (1) condition (2) condition (3) wire steel phase ferrite spacing descaling wire die wire die wire die rod product (%)*¹⁾ (μm) treatment break life break life break life 1 S1 7.8 215 MD No ∘ No ∘ No ∘ 2 S1 15.5 201 MD Yes — Yes — Yes — 3 S2 9.1 232 acid cleaning No ∘ No ∘ No ∘ 4 S2 10.2 202 acid cleaning No ∘ No ∘ Yes — 5 S2 9.4 214 acid cleaning No ∘ No ∘ No ∘ 6 S3 6.5 227 MD No ∘ No ∘ No ∘ 7 S3 10.8 210 MD No ∘ No ∘ Yes — 8 S4 2.7 192 MD No ∘ No ∘ No ∘ 9 S4 3.7 128 MD No ∘ No ∘ No ∘ 10 S4 2.2 118 MD Yes — Yes — Yes — 11 S5 3.4 285 MD No ∘ No ∘ No ∘ 12 S5 12.1 305 MD Yes — Yes — Yes — 13 S5 10.2 275 MD No ∘ No ∘ Yes — 14 S6 1.2 148 MD No ∘ No ∘ No ∘ 15 S6 1.5 75 MD Yes — Yes — Yes — 16 S6 11.5 127 MD Yes — Yes — Yes — 17 S7 3.6 303 acid cleaning No ∘ No ∘ No ∘ 18 S7 5.2 115 acid cleaning Yes — Yes — Yes — 19 S8 4.7 245 acid cleaning No ∘ No ∘ No ∘ 20 S9 4.1 199 MD No ∘ No ∘ No ∘ 21 S10 4.7 180 MD No ∘ No ∘ No ∘ 22 S11 5.0 231 MD No ∘ No ∘ No ∘ 23 S11 1.0 108 MD Yes — Yes — Yes — 24 S11 11.2 198 MD Yes — Yes — Yes — 25 S12 2.2 177 MD No ∘ No ∘ No ∘ 26 S13 4.7 172 MD Yes — Yes — Yes — 27 S14 3.9 147 MD Yes — Yes — Yes — 28 S15 4.7 184 MD Yes — Yes — Yes — 29 S16 3.5 141 MD Yes — yes — Yes — *¹⁾Remarks: With respect to all the wire rods except for the wire rods Nos. 23, and 27, the remaining metal microstructure is, in effect, pearlite; the metal microstructure of the wire rod No. 23: 94% pearlite, 5% martensite; the metal microstructure of the wire rod No. 27: 93.1% pearlite, 3% martensite

It has turned out from the results shown in Table 3 that the respective wire rods Nos. 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 14, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 25, meeting the requirements for the chemical components as well as the metal microstructure, according to the invention, had no wire-break, and little die wear even when processed under the severe wire-drawing condition (3). Accordingly, it is evident that those wire rods each had outstandingly excellent wire drawing workability.

It is also shown that the respective wire rods Nos. 4, 7, and 13, meeting the requirements for the chemical components as well as the metal microstructure, according to the invention, had no wire-break, and little die wear when processed under the wire drawing conditions (1) and (2), respectively. Accordingly, those wire rods as well each had excellent wire drawing workability. However, those wire rods each had wire-break when processed under the wire drawing condition (3). It is deemed that this was due to a relatively high area ratio of the second-phase ferrite.

In the cases of the respective wire rods that did not meet the requirements for the area ratio of the second-phase ferrite, according to the invention, Nos. 2, 12, 16, and 24, and in the cases of the respective wire rods that did not meet the requirements for the pearlite lamellar spacing, according to the invention, Nos. 10, 15, 18, and 23, wire-break occurred thereto even when processed under the mild wire-drawing condition (1) although all those wire rods met the requirements for the chemical components, according to the invention.

Meanwhile, in the cases of the wire rods that did not meet the requirements for the chemical components, more specifically, in the cases of the wire rod No. 26 whose Si content, and Al content are outside respective specified ranges, the wire rod No. 27 whose Mn content, and S content are outside respective specified ranges, the wire rod No. 28 whose P content, N content, and Nb content are outside respective specified ranges, and the wire rod No. 29 whose C content is outside a specified range, wire-break occurred thereto even when processed under the mild wire-drawing condition (1) although all those wire rods met the requirements for the metal microstructure, according to the invention.

As described in the foregoing, the wire rod with excellent resistance to wire-break, causing little die-wear, and excelling in the wire-drawing workability can be obtained by adequately controlling the requirements for the metal microstructure thereof (the area ratio of the second-phase ferrite, and the pearlite lamellar spacing) and the requirements for the chemical components thereof. 

1. A wire rod made of steel comprising: C: 0.6 to 1.1% (mass %, applicable to all components referred to hereunder); Si: 0.1 to 2.0%; Mn: 0.1 to 1%; P: not more than 0.020% (0% exclusive); S: not more than 0.020% (0% exclusive); N: not more than 0.006% (0% exclusive); Al: not more than 0.03% (0% exclusive); and O: not more than 0.003% (0% exclusive), the balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities, said wire rod comprising a pearlite structure wherein an area ratio of a second-phase ferrite is not more than 11.0%, and a pearlite lamellar spacing is not less than 120 μm.
 2. The wire rod according to claim 1, further comprising not more than 1.5% Cr (0% exclusive).
 3. The wire rod according to claim 1, further comprising not more than 1% Cu (0% exclusive), and/or not more than 1% Ni (0% exclusive).
 4. The wire rod according to claim 1, further comprising at least one element selected from the group consisting of not more than 0.30% (0% exclusive) V, not more than 0.1% (0% exclusive) Ti, not more than 0.10% (0% exclusive) Nb, not more than 0.5% (0% exclusive) Mo, and not more than 0.1% (0% exclusive) Zr.
 5. The wire rod according to claim 1, further comprising at least one element selected from the group consisting of not more than 5 ppm (0 ppm exclusive) Mg, not more than 5 ppm (0 ppm exclusive) Ca, and not more than 1.5 ppm (0 ppm exclusive) REM.
 6. The wire rod according to claim 1, further comprising not more than 15 ppm B.
 7. A method for producing a wire rod, comprising the steps of: heating a steel product meeting requirements for chemical components, specified in any of claims 1 to 6, to a temperature in a range of 900 to 1250° C.; hot rolling the steel product at a temperature not lower than 780° C., and finish-rolling the same at a temperature not higher than 1100° C. to be thereby formed into a wire rod; water-cooling the wire rod to a temperature range of 750 to 950° C. before coiling the same up to be placed on conveying equipment; cooling the wire rod at an average cooling rate of not less than 20° C./sec within 20 sec from coiling of the wire rod to thereby drop temperature of the wire rod to a minimum value point (T1) in a temperature range of 550 to 630° C.; and subsequently heating the wire rod to thereby raise the temperature of the wire rod up to a maximum value point (T2) in a temperature range of 580 to 720° C., higher in value than the minimum value point (T1), within 50 sec from the coiling of the wire rod. 